We talk to Just These, Please, a comedy troupe that will be performing at the PAWA Arts Jam to find out what makes them tick and what we can expect to see on the big night.

Just These, Please is a charming and unusually traditional sketch comedy troupe that “has everything needed to take the sketch comedy scene by storm” (according to the lovely folks at London Theatre 1). It is made up of lawyer Tom Dickson, actor William Sebag-Montefiore, crisp fanatic Georgie Jones and improvisor Philippa Carson.

This is their story…

Unruly Beginnings

Tom & Will’s comedic collaboration began in the hail of insults, violence & crisps that was Newcastle University Theatre Society’s production of The Lonesome West. They then moved to London where Tom became a lawyer and Will became a beautiful wizard prince and bio writer.

Because being a lawyer wasn’t enough work, Tom decided to write around 135 sketches in a year, ring Will and ask him if, despite his handsomeness, he’d like to found a sketch group with him. Will gasped (very handsomely) as he too had been writing sketches. They shook hands over the phone and Just These, Please was conceived.

For the group to be born, however, it needed what all births need: women.

Georgie they met working on a play and, subsequently, saw her perform poetry at the Roundhouse. Philippa was in an improv troupe with Will and they’d seen her in feature film Anti Matter.

Philippa and Georgie came on board and together totally redefined Tom & Will’s understanding of what a board was.

“We now write, edit and perform as an ensemble and, when we’re buying things, always place them on the counter and say Just These, Please.

Sparks of inspiration

They say, “We derive inspiration from a plethora of stimuli and we often look up synonyms to make us sound smart. Honestly, the gestation of an idea is initially a simple spark. Manufacturing that part is hard. We find things that help are live comedy, theatre, film, improv, walks, talks and a modest amount of whisky.”

Tom & Will’s biggest inspiration in the comedy world is John Finnemore. His approach to writing, his content and his style are all strong influences on their work.

What to expect from Just These, Please at the PAWA Arts Jam:

“We’ll bring with us charming and unusually traditional sketch comedy – an array of accents, a cavalcade of characters and a little alliteration. Look out for Sandra at BT customer services, a downtrodden disciple and wonderfully whimsical smoothie.”

Join us for a fun and cheery evening!

To see Just These, Please – and other great acts at the PAWA Arts Jam – please join us on 22 November for an night of cheery entertainment.

William Sebag-Montefiore trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, studied English Lit at Newcastle University and did quite well in his Year 6 SATs. His recent acting credits include Shakespeare Within The Abbey (Shakespeare’s Globe), Slaves of Solitude (Hampstead Theatre) and sitcom Whipped (Koto Films).

Georgie Jones is an actor, poet and crisp fanatic originally from a small town in Lincolnshire. Her performance style has been described as ‘delightfully dry’ which, for someone who sports a sweaty palm more often than not, she will take as a compliment. As well as working with Just These, Please, Georgie is currently developing her first full-length spoken word show as a Resident Artist at the Roundhouse.

Philippa Carson said quickly enough sounds like ‘“fill up a car, son.” Usually however, it is the collection of sounds that refer to the Dublin born actress, editor and improviser known for Anti Matter (Cast Iron Picture Co.), Becoming Mohammed (Pleasance) and The Case of the Crushed Petunias (Clerkenwell Actors Studio). Philippa studied at the Chicago Film School, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and she hates the cold with an ironically fiery passion.

Tom Dickson is a qualified lawyer who spends his spare time wearing tartan, writing sketches and travelling the world. He studied English Literature at Newcastle University and his theatrical endeavours include Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (Northern Stage), The Lonesome West (The Cluny) and An Ideal Husband (St. Luke’s). He was President of Newcastle University Theatre Society and hopes one day to become a President of something else.

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Photos: thanks to Just These, Please

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PAWA Magazine, is the online magazine of PAWA, the Pan Asian Women’s Association. The magazine shares news and stories of PAWA People and Projects supporting girls’ education across Asia.